Movable supporting base for sound record tape



Nov. 15, 1949 J. M. KUHLIK MOVABLE SUPPORTING BASE FOR SOUND RECORD TAPES Filed 00 15, 1943 Illlllllllllll' I? INVENTOR.

$38 MMI f1 4 Patented Nov. 15, 1949' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORD TAPE Jacob M. Kuhlik, Brooklyn, N, Y., assignorflo Hattie B. Kuhlik, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application October 15, 1943, Serial No. 506,443

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sound recording and reproducing machines particularly of the type for recording on film bands.

An object of my invention is 'to provide a very simple and inexpensive machine-of this kind that is reliable and positive in action.

Heretofore considerable'difiiculty has been experienced in attempting to make sound records in moving vehicles where the recording apparatus is subjected to all kinds of vibrations and motions and especially in airplanes due to the rocking, tilting, looping the loop and nose-diving, whereby the relative positions of the various parts of the apparatus; particularly the stylusfloecomedis-' placed and thereby interrupt and prevent recordmg.

It has also been found diflicult to make and maintain proper tension between the stylus and traveling film.

Furthermore in the ordinary machines considerable time and effort are expended in mounting and demounting the reels for-the purpose of reversing and interchanging the same on the spindles.

Difiiculty has been-encountered also in making more than one track on a film, especially on a narrow film band.

It is a primary object of my invention to .provide a machine of this kind that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and that is reliable I and positive in action.

Another object is to eliminate any possibility of displacement of the stylus relative to the film band due to vibration, shocksandjars, etc.

A further object is to provide novel means whereby the tension between-the stylus and-film is readily adjusted 1 r A still further object is to simplify the manner of mounting the reels on the spindle whereby the reels can be mounted and demounted with a minimum of time and effort. v 7

Still another object is to provide means for impressing at least two tracks on a narrowfilm, one track being on each side of its center line.

I accomplish the foregoing and other objects and advantages of my invention bymounting the sound unit in a fixed andimmovable positionon the frame of the machine and by pivotally mount-. ing the support or base for the traveling film band close to the sound unit with means for locking the base against movement.

The base is arrangedto swing to and from the stylus point for the purpose, in one position thereof, when swung downwardly to enable the insertion or removal ofthe stylus point or for V 2 removing or inserting the film between the base and unit and is adjustable to make vproper contact between the stylus and the film, the base for this reasonbeing constructed as a two-part member, one part of which is formed with a raceway thereon to guide the film and ismade adjustable toregulate the contact between the film and the stylus point.

In order that the film andstylus are properly positioned for impressing tracks on the filth on either side of its center line, the reels are. suitably marked on the front and back faces thereof. The tracks are impressed on the film for substantially its entire length, only a small [portion at each end being unimpressed. The reels-are reversible and interchangeable from one spindle to the other and when the supply on the supply reel has advanced to the take-up reel and one track has been impressed on one side of the center line of the film, the reels are reversed and interchanged, that is, the supply reel is mounted on the take-up reel spindle and the take-yup reel is mounted on the supply reel spindle. Thefilm is then laced between the unit and base and is in position to be, run in a reverse direction to be impressed with a second track on the opposite side of its center line.

The spindle ends and reel hubs are so con structed that the reel is readily slid onto the end of the spindle and then spun into operative posi-,- tion on the spindle in very quick time. The reel can be removed in the same quick manner.

Other objects and advantagesof my invention will be set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings thereof, in whichv Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a recording and reproducing machine embodying my inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front end view showing the support for the sound unit and the film supporting base.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the film supporting base, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a front detail view of the base of Fig. 4, showing in dotted lines its inoperative position.

Fig; 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with one part of the base removed, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the part of the base removed from Fig. 6, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the spindle and reel mounting.

As shown, the machine is of a conventional type andeinbodies a suitable supporting frame which may be open for ready access to its working parts or enclosed in a cabinet, the latter in some cases being preferable to eliminate noise not intended for recording. The machine as constructed is very light in weight and its Working parts, wherever possible, arranged to be firmly supported against looseness and vibration. As herein shown, the base plate 2, forming a part of the frame work, may be supplied with a threaded bushing 2', to clamp the machine to any suitable support where the machine is set up for use. The base 2, to which an upright plate 3, is secured, on the front of which a pair of reels, li and 5, are mounted on spindles, 6 and I, the spindles rotatable in bearings, 8 and 9, one of which, as 6, is the take-up spindle and the otherthe supply reel spindle.

The motor M is supported on the rear of the plate 3, the shaft I!) of which extends through the plate 3. A pulley If) is fixed on the shaft at the rear of the plate and drives the spring belt 6', for driving the pulley 6" and spindle is. On the shaft I at the front of the plate 3, a film feed wheel I I is'mounted and fixed by a set screw, the shaft l6 passing through a'bearing in the plate 3.

" The shaft III of the'motor it will be noted runs at a reduced speed by a reducing drive of the motor'forming a part of the motor, to drive the shaft II] and feed wheel at the proper speed.

The reel spindles are mounted as shown, the supply reel spindle I at the left and somewhat lower than the take-up spindle 5, at the right, of a fixed'sound unit mounted above the reels and spindles about central thereof.

1 The'unit, indicated at U, is supported on an angle bracket u, fixed to the plate 3, on the front end "of the bracket in an angular position as shown and held by screw u", in slotted holes of the bracket for slight lateral adjustment of the unit and'stylus to proper position on the film, which is supported under the unit on a supporting base and'there fixed'a'gainst movement, whereby onlythe stylus thereofis adapted to vibrate, to record the'impulses imparted thereto on the film or reproduce audiblythe'impulses thus recorded. The film supporting base indicated at I2, may be constructed in various forms to accomplish the results here required without departing from the scope of the invention, namely, to operate with the unit and stylus thereof supported in a fixed position above the base to withstand the vibration it would be subjected to when used in airplanes or other moving conveyances.

While it may be desirable in some cases to impress only a single line track along the center of the filmb'andwith a fixed unit at said position, it is more particularly intended here to impress two line tracks one along each margin at the side of the film band and on the same face of the band and in so doing; rewinding the film is not necessary as would be the case of impressing a single line track. It is a feature, therefore, of my invention to impress the two line tracks for the fol lowi'ng- 'reasonsz. first, a saving of film to the amountof fifty per cent, second, smaller reels may be used, third, the rewinding of the film is not required thereby saving time, since it is only necessary after impressing the first line to remove both reels from the spindles without entirely removing the film from either reel and switch them around end to end with the film thereon, so the side marked Front on the reels will be entered on the spindles to be at the rear, and fourth, the recording continues losing only the lapse of time in switching the reels on the spindles and re-lacing the film by lowering the film base to start impressing the second line as a continuation of the first line in a direction reverse to the first line.

The reels and spindles are both constructed in a novel manner to enable the quick removal and replacement of the reels on the spindles when applied and to be firmly attached against rattling and wobbling action thereon, this being accom-- plished by providing the reels at their centers in any desirable manner'with a threaded bushing, 4, which protrudes at each side of the reels to form a shoulder, 45', at each side, to engage with a shouldered portion such as a collar, I, on the spindles, forward of which the spindle extends and having a left hand threaded portion, '1', close to the collar on which the threaded reels from either side thereof engage the short length of thread on the spindles to be drawn to the shouldered collars. The spindles extending forward of the short threaded part without thread to support the reels at the front ends, and to readily lead them on the spindles and for requiring only a few turns to revolve them to their right position on the spindles.

The reels, marked Front and Back, on the 5 outside faces of the reels, as seen in Fig. 1, and

when applied to the spindles as there shown, to start a-recording operation are both positioned with the word Front forward. The reel 5, on the supply spindle I, has the blank film thereon, is led from the top of the reel to be drawn forward to rotate thereel in clockwise direction downward and around a guide roller 9, and upward over the base I2, and again downward to partly encircle the feed wheel I I tobe there engaged by a pressure roller I3, and upward to be attached to the reel 4, on the take-up spindle '6, to the top side thereof and attached to the reel and by several extra windings to be driven in the same clockwise direction by the aforesaid spring belt 6'.

The reel 5, now on spindle I, with the film thereon, is free to unwind by feeding the film band forward and the reel is free to rotate with the spindle 1, except that this spindle is frictionally held against self-unwinding to prevent slack and runaway looseness of the film. For this purpose the spindle I, has a pulley 22, fixed thereon, over which a short spring belt 22', is stretched, and a pulley 22" on the plate 3, which may be secured against rotation, that holds the reel under a suitable tension to prevent unrolling.

The presser roller I3, is mounted at one end of a rock lever I4, mounted on a rock shaft I5, passing through a bearing I6, in the frame, for a clamp arm II on the shaft, at the rear of the plate, to the end of which a spring I9 is hooked and to a pin I9, on the frame, to rock the shaft, and roller I3, to engage the film with the feed wheel. An upstanding extended part 2!), of the rock lever I4, has a finger knob 2|, by which the presserwheel is released from the feed wheel I I and returnedby the spring I8.

The film supporting base I2, heretofore referred to, as used with the fixed unit, which is particularly designed for use in airplanes, as will be understood, is' as well adapted for general use, especially inthe type of machines where a single line is impressed in the band, and in this particularand improved method wherein two line tracks are impressed, the first one along the margin at one side of the band, then without rewind- 5 ing.the .film,-. switch the reels onthe spindles-to impress the second line at-the other sidetof the film -bandonthe sameface of a narrow film band.

Since the unit is rigidly supported to withstand vibrations in airplanes, the film supporting base is l wise firml supported nd e en e b locked in a work position, for operation oi ,the ad; vancing film band to travel over the base and under the stylus of the unit. The film supporting base 12,. for this reason is constructed to bemov able to,and,.from, the,,unit andstylus point, or for lacingthe film band under the, stylus,

While the, base coul.d...b.e a single membenl prefer,.however, to construct the base as shown as a two-part member, including the adjusting means thereof, asacomplete unit app b e o its work position on the. frame plate 3.

The base I2 includes a body portion 25, preferably of circular formation as viewed from the front, and is supported at one side thereof, under the unit, on a rock shaft 26, to rock in a bearing 21 of the frame plate 3, which shaft has an adjustable clamp arm 28 attached, by which the body portion is held in an idle position by a spring 29, fixed on the end of the arm and hooked on a pin 30, on the frame, to rock the body at the front end and downward against a stop pin 3 I, at the front of the frame, see Fig. l and Fig. 5. A spring controlled lock bolt 32, passing through the body, for a reduced end 32' thereof, to engage in a perforation 32", in the frame, see Fig. 6, to lock the body to a work position, when the body is lifted, and to firmly hold and lock the body. The lock bolt is located in the body at the lower end thereof, and is provided with a finger grip button 33, at the forward end, by which the bolt is drawn forward to release the reduced end from the perforation in the frame, and the spring 29, on the clamp arm, will draw the body downward. The bore 34, in which the bolt slides in the body, is counterbored to a larger diameter to receive a spring 35, which engages a shouldered portion of the bore, and a threaded washer 36, on the bolt, between which the spring is compressed to draw the bolt forward to lock the body and when returning, the same body is shifted to its locked position by grasping the finger button 33, which is pushed upward until the bolt enters the perforation to again lock the base to work position.

The body is fixed to the shaft with a set screw 31, to rock with the shaft 26, and a large-headed screw 31', tapped in the end of the shaft 26, holds the body to position against the frame 3, by removing this screw and releasing the set screw 31, the body may be removed from the shaft without disturbing the shaft in its mounting.

The other member of the two-part base, indicated at 38, see Fig. '7, is of a semi-circular shape at its top to conform to the body, in which the film raceway 39 is formed, a flanged portion 33, integral with this part, between which and a movable flange 40, the film band is guided. This movable flange member is supported on the stems of two headed screws 4|, that are located in spaced bores, which bores are counterbored as at 42, to receive springs 43, between threaded washers 44, on the end of the screws which draw the flange inward to yieldingly ride against the film at one side thereof when in the raceway, the raceway being of slightly less width than the film band, to hold the film when slight variation in its width occurs, as is often the case.

This raceway member is supported on a stud 45, fixed in the body member at the top side as at 46 where. a part v-of the. circular portion is .cut from the front of theijbody to receive therace member, to .the. width; thereof, and .a portion at the sideof thishub. like part is cutawaytothe rear of the. body forming an even. platform 41, aroundthis upstanding part ofthe body in which thelstudv 4,5.is fixed and extends. I The, racewaymemberis bored as at 48, at one end to rock on .the stud 45,.a pin 49, is driven in the rear side of the raceway member adjacent the front end on. which-the. end of a fiat spring 50, attached to.-thev body at .therear, which bears down On the pin,49,: anda knurled th justing screw 5-l,-,threaded1f1 the body extending upward to engage the. underside of the raceway member, whichhasa freelimited movement upward and downward, controlled by the adjusting screw 5|, and the spring 50, by which, when the film is in place on the raceway, the body locked to its work position, the proper adjustment with the stylus by this adjusting screw may be regulated, the spring 50 being quite powerful, will readily hold the parts in their adjusted position, without danger of shifting, and thereby avoiding all looseness of these parts while the machine is in action.

The operation of the invention has been referred to in what has been above said and it is believed the same will be entirely plain without further description. Certain of the advantages of this invention have also been pointed out in what has been above said and others will be readily seen with further description.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction which have been set forth in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refer to and set forth only certain embodiments of the invention and it is obvious that the same may be modified within the scope of the claims hereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be noted from the foregoing that the voice unit and base for the traveling film are fixed in operative position relative to each other and that the stylus will be maintained in operative engagement with the film under any and all conditions and cannot become displaced by vibration or shock.

It will also be noted that by reason of the novel construction of the spindle and reel hub, the reel can be initially slid over the protruding unthreaded end of the spindle until the hub threads engage the threads on the spindle and then by spinning the reel it can be driven home to operative position on the spindle very quickly. The reel can be taken off of the spindle in the same easy and quick manner.

The construction of the reels and spindles is such that the reels are adapted to be reversed and interchanged on the spindles, and the relative position of the reels and stylus is such that the stylus engages the film at a point on one side of the center line of the film when the reels are on the spindles in either their front or reverse positions.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a stationary sound unit, a stylus supported by said sound unit, a two-part pivotal base for supporting a traveling film in operative position relative to said stylus, one of said parts being swingable relative to the other, means for looking said base as a unit against movement when '2 in operative"position'irelative' torthe' stylus anda screw carried *by the stationary part of the base engaging the swingable part for. moving said latter part to and from the stylus to adjust the tension' between the stylus and film.

2. In a sound irecordin'gand reproducing machine, a frame havingf'a perforation, a sound unit fixed on said frame, a stylus supported by said sound unit, a two-part pivotal basefor supporting a traveling film in operative position relative to said stylus, one part of said base being swingable relative to the other, a spring pressed bolt carried by said base and adapted to coact withsaid perforation to lock the base as a unit in operative position relative to the stylus and a screw carried by the stationary part of the base and engaging the swing'able part for moving said Number Name Date 2,086,934 "Bonneau July 13, 1937 2,096,113 Kiel Oct. 19, 1937 2,167,817 Smith Aug. 1, 1939 2,183,117 Daniel L Dec. 12, 1939 2,205,058 Calvert June 18, 1940 2,273,391 "Yerkovich Feb. 17, 1942 2,314,834 

